Treating skin abrasions (road rash)

[GaryB1263]

I've got a couple of abrasions that are not healing as fast as the rest. I have been treating them with hydrogen peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment. What is the best way to soften a scab so I can clean them and get the treatment to them.

 

The clinic is closed now and I plan to go if I can not effectively treat this tonight and notice improvement by tomorrow.

[Issangeorge]

I had very bad road rash and a witch doctor used sesame oil on of. Took a whole but worked.

[GaryB1263]

I have tried soaking in soapy water. I have never thought of using oil.

 

I suppose when I go to the Dr he will put me on antibiotics.

[Sheryl]

If all you have are abrasions there is no need or indication for systemic antibiotics.

 

Scabs are a normal part of the healing process and you should not interfere with them.

 

Peroxide in this situation is likely to aggravate matters as it is irritating to tissue. Its main use is in cleaning out dead tissue from deep wounds. Not appropriate to abrasions. Indeed, I suspect the peroxide accounts for the delayed healing.

 

My advice is to stop the peroxide and continue with only the antibiotic cream and let nature take its course with the scab.

[CBR250]

I would of course follow Sheryl's advice without hesitation.

But perhaps you could also go and see a doctor rather than deal with it yourself if it is still slow to heal in a few days?

I nearly lost my foot due to abrasions resulting from road rash - and because of my ignorance of the bacterial dangers here in LOS. I spent a week cleaning it myself, until one morning my foot swelled so alarmingly that I hobbled off to my GP.  She put me on 2 different antibiotics - although first she scrubbed the wound with steel wool to get rid of all of the shreds of infected flesh (only exaggerating - but the debriding sure felt like that!)

She told me that for any future road rash to take no chances - straight to the hospital for debridement, and then a course of broad spectrum systemic antibiotics.